Make-up HELP??????????????

[Mindy]

I am an Auguste face clown. I realized this morning that my red cheeks and red mouth do not show up the way they did when I was a White Face. I was taught that you use powder to set the make-up. So when I changed from white to Auguste, I changed from baby powder to a translucent face powder. WHAT CAN I DO to make the red show up better?????
Please help!!!
Mindy

[Dylan]

I use baby powder and I am an auguste, also can we see a close up of just your face?

[Fitzwilly]

What makeup are you using Sunshine? Are you using a base auguste color? If not, are you very tan, or if so is it a dark base? Very often the powder will seem to mute the colors for a few minutes after applying. As the body's natural moisture absorbs any extra powder the colors tend to "brighten" back up.

[ibimus]

Can you add some contrasting colour around the red? Blues and greens with make the red seem even redder.
Also, watch out when you powder. It's easy to use too much, and that could be part of your problem.

I actually don't powder at all. I find that my makeup stays on just as well without powder as it does with, and at least without powder the colours are very vibrant. Maybe try going sans powder, and see what happens!

[Fitzwilly]

I like you Dottie but I think that cotton candy hair dye sank through to your brain. Powder, powder, powder. It is to easy to touch your makeup, with your costume, your hands or even someone else. Also, even though we are using greese paint and not a waterbase it is still sucseptible to sweat, it does contribute to the breakdown of the makeup. This is also one of the things that seperate professionals from the rest. When you see that "high gloss" finish on a neighborhood clown 9 times out of 10 (you being the exception) it is one good indication they have no real idea what they are doing. Especially during long gigs or when you are really working. There are plenty of color options. Mehron makes a wonderful blush powder called wineberry that is a red fuschia, it really stands out.

I think I hear my soapbox starting to crack. I am going to step down now.

[Luki Loki]

To keep from being a powder puff instead of a clown I was taught to use a spray water bottle on mist to dampen my face after brushing off the majority that isn't needed then pat dry with a dry cloth.

My mouth is pink before spritzing but after it is back to bright red.

Warning: pump hairspray or the water hose do not make good emergency replacements.

[ashes]

I pat my face with a damp paper towel after powdering.

I know Fitzwilly's take on it is to leave the excess powder on
(after brushing off what you can) and it will get gradually absorbed.

(I hope I'm paraphrasing you correctly here, Fitzwilly)

A lot of it depends on the temperature and humidity of where
I will be performing - and indoors vs outdoors.

Ashes

[Fitzwilly]

You did indeed Ashes. I know numerous clowns who have been taught to spritz, or in some way remove the excess powder. I was talking to a few professional makeup artists at a Halloween and party trade show a few years when the topic was brought up and I learned from a number of quite vocal professionals with strong opinions on the subject why it worked towards defeating the use of powder in the first place.

Your last line Ashes brings up a very good point. Tempertaure, humidity, indoors or outdoors really makes a difference on how much stress you put on your makeup. Also, I forget, I started right from the beginning being in clown for hours and hours at a time. If I hadn't powdered well my makeup wouldn't hold up and sometimes I would be trying to repair my makeup in the middle of a show when I had 30 seconds or a minute off stage. For light sweaters, working in a nice air conditioned space, for a short time and not being quite as zany as Fitzwilly I can see where your makeup might hold up really well even after spritzing. I would look like I was melting.

[Luki Loki]

I'm just a few hours north of Ashes and spend 5-6 hours in makeup every Tuesday night and it holds good. I do give the powder about 5 minutes to soak up the grease before brushing and spritzing. Guess the grease blocks my pores enough to prevent the melting. The sweat winds up in my costume and wig instead. My costume starts getting damp even before I leave the house

My hypothesis is the strength of your sweat pores squirt makes a difference along with heat and humid. But I am a clown and not a scientist so don't have any idea how to test if it is right.

[Mindy]

Yes, Dylan, next week, I'll try to get a close up of my face. However, I'll be home alone & it may be difficult. May have to wait until the following week when my husband is home on Wednesday (my "clowning" day) and get him to do that for me.

I use Ben Nye for the Auguste base, Mehron grease crayons for my "rainbow" eyes and actually use Revlon lipstick for my heart cheeks and mouth. I've been using regular translucent face powder but have ordered some powder from Bubbas Clown Supplies that says it's specifically for Auguste clowns.

I've been putting the powder on with a brush and then brushing off the excess immediately. I bought a puff and will try putting it on with the puff, waiting for a few minutes and brushing off the excess.

I outline the mouth and heart cheeks with black eyeliner.....is that necessary? or would it be better without the black? I do line the eyes after I have made my rainbow. Also anyone know where I could get deep purple eyeshadow for the rainbow? Right now all I have is a pale lavender.

Thanks for all your advice!!!
Mindy